Aircraft tool

Abstract

A guidance tool for restricting the potential angular misalignment between the axial centerlines of a pipe end and a corresponding socket arrangement during a pipe installation process. The guidance tool may include a sleeve and a clamp configured to removably engage the sleeve with an external surface of a pipe end, such that at least part of the sleeve and pipe end may be inserted into a corresponding socket arrangement.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A guidance tool for restricting the potential angular misalignment between the axial centerlines of a pipe end and corresponding socket arrangement during a pipe installation process, the guidance tool comprising:
 a sleeve assembly including sleeve segments, wherein each sleeve segment has side edges, is arc shaped in cross section and has a radially outwardly extending ridge perpendicular to the axial centerline, and wherein the sleeve segments are configured to be arranged on pipe end such that the side edge of one of the sleeve segment is adjacent the side edge of another one of the sleeve segments; and 
 a clamp including a radially inwardly facing clamping surface configured to extend circumferentially around the sleeve assembly while arranged on the pipe end, the clamping surface including a circumferential groove configured to receive the ridges of the sleeve segments, and the clamp is configured to removably engage the sleeve with an external surface of a pipe end, such that at least part of the sleeve assembly and the pipe end may be inserted into a corresponding socket arrangement and wherein the clamp is configured to allow removal of the sleeve assembly from engagement with the external surface of a pipe end, once the pipe end has been inserted into a corresponding socket arrangement. 
 
     
     
       2. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve assembly is cylindrical. 
     
     
       3. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve segments include a first half sleeve segment and a second half sleeve segment, the first half and second half sleeve segments being distinct and separate elements. 
     
     
       4. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve segments comprises a first half sleeve segment and a second half sleeve segment, the first half and the second half sleeve segments are connected to by a hinge. 
     
     
       5. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is approximately cylindrical. 
     
     
       6. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a first half clamp segment and second half clamp segment, the first half and second half clamp segments being distinct and separate elements. 
     
     
       7. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a locking mechanism arranged to maintain the sleeve assembly in removable engagement with the pipe end when the locking mechanism is in the locked position. 
     
     
       8. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism is arranged to allow removal of the sleeve assembly from removable engagement with a pipe end when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position. 
     
     
       9. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism is one or more fasteners. 
     
     
       10. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises a first half and a second half, the first half and second half connected to each other by a hinge. 
     
     
       11. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first half and second half of the clamp respectively include a first protrusion and second protrusion, such that bringing the first protrusion and second protrusion into contact locks the clamp. 
     
     
       12. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clamp comprises an outer surface including a gripping arrangement. 
     
     
       13. A guidance tool as claimed in  claim 1 , configured to limit the distance the pipe end may be inserted into the socket arrangement during a pipe installation process. 
     
     
       14. A pipe end and a guidance tool removably engaged with the pipe end, the guidance tool according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. A pipe end fitting and a guidance tool removably engaged with the pipe end, and a socket arrangement, whereby the pipe end and guidance tool at least partially extend into the socket arrangement, the guidance tool according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       16. A method of installing a pipe end into a socket arrangement in an aircraft structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 removably engaging a guidance tool according to  claim 1  with the pipe end; 
 inserting the pipe end and guidance tool at least partially into the socket arrangement; and 
 removing the guidance tool from the pipe end. 
 
     
     
       17. A method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the step of removably engaging the guidance tool with the pipe end comprises the step of locking the guidance tool to the pipe end fitting. 
     
     
       18. A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of removing the guidance tool from the pipe end comprises unlocking the guidance tool. 
     
     
       19. A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the guidance tool is removed from the pipe end by sliding the guidance tool away from and out of the socket arrangement.